Fringed Polygala

(Polygala paucifolia)

 

   

 

 

Color Photograph: Copyright Nearctica.com, Inc.

Line Drawing: Britton, N.L., and A. Brown. 1913. An Illustrated Flora of the Northern United States and Canada, Second Edition.

 

Fringed Polygala (Polygala paucifolia Willd.)

Identification: Flowers large for the family, pink-purple, with 3 petals. Upper petal fused into a long tube with a ragged fringe at its apex. Lateral petals large, ovate, on either side of the base of the flower tube. Flowers solitary. Plant low. Leaves ovate, shiny, clustered near the top of the stem. Plant 3 to 6 inches in height.

Distribution: Saskatchewan in the west to New Brunswick in the east, southward to Georgia in the mountains.

Habitat: Fringed Polygala is most commonly found in rich forest.

Flowering period: May to June.

Similar Species: The flowers and leaves of Fringed Polygala are unmistakable, although the species is accused by some of being an orchid.

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